Wessels chokes up as he recalls power of 1995 World Cup

By Georgina Robinson, Tom Decent & Roy Ward

14 June 2018 — 8:00pm

Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels demonstrated his talents as a public speaker at the club’s Weary Dunlop luncheon in Melbourne on Thursday.

Australia's youngest Super Rugby coach opened proceedings with an emotional address about how he fell in love with rugby after the 1995 World Cup in his native South Africa. Wessels, with players sitting at his feet, spoke to an audience of more than 1000 about Nelson Mandela, the uniting of the country through winning the World Cup and the importance of the No.6 jersey.

“After they had won, no one was inside their houses,” Wessels recalled.

Good chat: Michael Cheika and Dave Wessels shoot the breeze at the Melbourne Rebels lunch.

Photo: Supplied

Mandela famously wore the No.6 Springboks jersey of captain Francois Pienaar, an Afrikaner player, to games during the tournament, using it as a symbol of unity for the racially divided nation.

Wessels choked up as he drew comparisons between Pienaar and new South African captain Siya Kolisi, who was wearing the same number when he became the first black player to captain the Springboks last weekend.

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“For me, I think that is the beauty of sport and great sport is always more than just the game,” Wessels said.

The Rebels coach returned later on to interview Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika, Wessels utilising his old interviewing skills as a former rugby writer, even if his opening question was a little biased. “Who is your favourite Australian Super Rugby coach?” Wessels asked, drawing laughter from the room.

If the Wallabies wingers can dodge their Irish opponents as well as Cheika side-stepped that answer, the national team will be in good shape at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Rebels prop Fereti Sa’aga showed he is no one-trick pony, playing the keyboard with a local two-piece band. Sa’aga said his fingers aren’t just good for tackling in an impressive performance.

Also, David Campese and Raelene Castle were spotted having a yak. Talk about a united code.

Great of the union: Former Wallabies legend David Campese and Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle pose for a photo at the lunch.

Photo: Melbourne Rebels

RA encouraged by TV ratings in Brisbane

The latest ticket sales point to a crowd of up to 29,000 at AAMI Park on Saturday night for the second Test between Australia and Ireland, a fantastic result considering a slow start and stiff competition for sports fans this weekend. The Wallabies will be up against it in the TV ratings with the Socceroos playing their opening World Cup match against France at the same time.

But Rugby Australia were encouraged by a solid 748,000 viewers tuning in to Channel Ten and Fox Sports broadcasts of the series opener in Brisbane. That’s not a patch on the 965,000 who tuned in for the same Test in the 2016 England series, but it’s level pegging with last year’s Bledisloe Cup opener and suggests the Sydney Test could be up there, too.

Hansen's bizarre analogy

The All Blacks have been heavily scrutinised this week for their tackling techniques after French player Remy Grosso suffered a fractured skull in a nasty collision.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has defended his players and produced this head-scratcher on Thursday to explain what might be going on.

"Someone gave me a good analogy this morning, actually," Hansen said. "Sometimes when you're driving your car and you're driving at the speed limit and then a little kid runs out in front of you, is that the kid's fault or your fault?

"In our game things are fluid and change, and you can't stop something you've committed to and someone's angle changes. We have to accept there are going to be some head knocks. In saying that, we've got a duty to make sure we don't do the dumb ones ... get them out of our game."

Rise and shiner: Charlotte Caslick's black eye.

Photo: Supplied

Caslick sports shiner

We all know sevens can be a brutal sport and Charlotte Caslick showed off exactly why with a nasty black eye at a media opportunity this week. When asked about her battle wound by The Cauliflower, Caslick seemed nonplussed about it.

“I have a really hard head and I headbutt people all the time at training, but I never get evidence of it,” Caslick joked. “It was just a knee towards the end of the last game.”

Did it hurt? “Not so much at the time, but I think it looks worse than it is”.

We reckon credit also has to go to the Fox Sports make-up team, who managed to completely hide the purple bruising before Caslick’s appearance on Kick & Chase later that evening.

Coaches clinicsThe Wallabies coaches have maintained a busy off-piste schedule this month and it hasn’t all been novelty cat collecting and Chinese chow downs. The team have taken a coaching roadshow on tour with them as they’ve moved through the Test series, throwing open the doors to club and school coaches for a rare opportunity to pick their brains on coaching at the top level.

At AAMI Park in Melbourne on Wednesday night, attack coach Stephen Larkham and skills coach Mick Byrne spoke to a captive audience of about 30 coaches, while more than 60 turned up to Brisbane Grammar School to hear Byrne and defence coach Nathan Grey detail their approach to the contact area.

Next Wednesday in Sydney the same event will take place at Rugby Australia HQ, with Byrne and Cheika, holding court. The forums are free and open to any accredited coaches.

Aussie rivals named for World Cup bids

Six countries have officially entered the race to host the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Australia, England, France, New Zealand, Portugal and Wales will have until August 10 to put their bid documents forward to explain why they should host the showpiece event. The Rugby World Cup Council will make the official announcement on November 14 in Dublin.

Tupac is King

Wednesday is a rest day for Wallabies players and usually they’re on a golf course or exploring the culture of whatever city they’re in. Given Saturday's match is in Melbourne, it makes sense that a number of them wandered down to Hosier Lane, which is famous for its street art.

The Aussie players seemed to be particularly interested in a mural of Tupac Shakur, the popular American rapper who was murdered in mysterious circumstances in 1996. Will Genia, Samu Kerevi, Curtis Rona and Pete Samu all put up snaps to social media posing in front of one of the most influential rappers of all time. Very candid, gents.